April, 2008

March, 2008

October, 2007

After a tumultuous couple of months, we have arrived at our beach house in Texas, and revel in the constant sunshine and warm evenings. Initially, the mosquitoes were a bit of a nuisance, however quite suddenly, on the last day of September, thousands of dragon-fly appeared and tucked into a mosquito-rich dinner.

Two days ago one could almost (but not quite) feel some sympathy for the few remaining mosquitoes when a swarm of swallows also turned up, swooping and diving along the beach, finishing off the survivors. The swallows didn't stay long - as if we are just one of their many service stations where they refuel en route, heading further south.

Our own travails included several rendez-vous with strangers before we left France. A common theme was the way they had all out-sourced an important part of their minds. In each case either they asked me, or I asked them for directions. What was shocking was that they had no mental maps of where they were. In every case they needed GPS guidance to get from A to B.

Meanwhile, it is great to be back in the USA, a vibrant, friendly place. It hasn't taken long to pick up old habits, such as talking about gallons and Fahrenheit, although Pamela still giggles when I practice my Texan drawl!! Using 'z's in words like organisation will take a little longer.

I chuckled when I heard reference yesterday to baseball's 'world series'. It is a competition to which the world is definitely not invited! With all it's traditional insularity, America is still 'news light' and 'religion heavy'.

Which reminds me, listening to bible quoting politicians and media anchors who are all full of rhetoric about the wickedness of Iran, it is amusing to reflect that Persia (Iran) is where the Three Kings of the new testament originated. They were 'Magi' come to anoint Light in the World.